Composite passive armor protection

ABSTRACT

A composite passive ar-mor protection comprises a structure embedded in the light ahoy matrix ( 1 ), wherein said structure is made of ele-ments in the form of geometric solids ( 2 ), resting on a flame in the form of a grid made of the permanently connected layers of tubes ( 3 ), wherein preferably through the tubes ( 3 ) are passing fibers ( 4 ), and the geometric solids ( 2 ) are em-bedded in the light metal alloy matrix ( 1 ) to a level above one half of their total height.

The invention relates to a composite passive armor protection to safeguard objects from the effect of projectiles and projectile fragments.

As known from the DE1578324 description of armor, the energy-absorbing elements are embedded in a non-metallic matrix. Elements, having the shape of cylindrical bodies, are arranged in layers and placed next to each other or at certain distances. On the other hand, the protective screen to defend against explosion as disclosed in PL171251 is made of air-permeable side layers, having the form of precut sheets of metal foil, and of a porous core, placed between these foils, containing the beads or ellipsoids made of the same material as the sheet. Preferably, the sheets of metal foil contain magnesium alloy. A passive armor known from the PL181177 description consists of the main inner protective metal layer and the outer protective layer comprising a number of rectangular, metallic cassettes containing ceramic layers. The spaces between the ceramic layers and the surfaces of the cassette walls are filled with a composition of small ceramic pieces mixed with glue and concrete. The cassettes in an outer protective layer of the armor are removably secured to the main inner protective metal layer by means of various connecting and clamping elements. A safety element used to protect the life and health of the crew of a military vehicle against the explosion of mine under this vehicle known from the PL206571 description consists of a shield having through-holes on its entire surface. The shield is connected by means of the vertical supports with a thin intermediate plate, which, through springs and connected to these springs mounting plates, is attached to the underside of the vehicle floor. Discharge ducts are running from the shield surface.

A composite passive armor protection according to the present invention comprises a structure, embedded in the light alloy matrix, said structure being made of elements in the form of geometric solids resting on a frame in the form of a grid made of the permanently interconnected layers of tubes, wherein fibers are preferably passing through the tubes, and the geometric solids are embedded in the matrix to a level above one half of their total height.

Preferably, the geometric solids are embedded in the grid openings. The geometric solids are in the shape of spheres or truncated pyramids with a square base.

The geometric solids are ceramic or metallic solids.

The fibers are successively passing through all the tubes in one plane and the ends of the fibers are connected to each other, or fibers are interconnected in such a way that the fiber ends passing through the tubes in one plane are connected to the fiber ends passing through the tubes in the next plane.

The fibers are aramid or steel fibers.

Owing to its specific construction, a composite passive armor protection according to the present invention is resistant to projectile impacts. The protruding part of geometric solids prevents the penetration of AP-type projectiles, projectile fragments, and small arms projectiles. The mere shape and very hard material of the geometric solids cause distortion in the projectile flight path, or ricochet and weakening of the projectile kinetic energy. Brackets and rods passing through these brackets reinforce the plate and act as a shock absorbing cushion for the geometric solids. The matrix made of a light alloy protects the armor against tearing. The composite passive armor protection according to the present invention, the matrix whereof is made of a light alloy, is highly effective in protection against the AP projectiles of up to 12.6 mm. The use of light alloy as a matrix material reduces the armor weight, thereby increasing the mobility of the protected vehicles, reducing fuel consumption and enabling the armor to be used as a means of protection for the aircraft and watercraft.

The composite passive armor protection is made by casting methods. The structure composed of geometric solids resting on a grid made of tubes is placed in a specially designed foundry mould and poured with a liquid light metal alloy. The alloy solidification is carried out under the conditions of elevated pressure. As a last step, the armor is subjected to machining to the required dimensions.

The composite passive armor protection according to the present invention is shown in a sample embodiment in the accompanying drawings, where

FIG. 1 shows a vertical section of the composite passive armor protection, and

FIG. 2 its schematic representation.

A composite passive armor protection comprises a structure embedded in the light metal alloy matrix 1, wherein said structure is made of ceramic balls 2, resting on a grid formed by two layers of tubes 3 arranged at an angle to each other, wherein through the tubes 3 fibers 4 are passing. 

1. A composite passive armor protection having a structure embedded in the matrix, characterized in that it is made of a structure embedded in the light alloy matrix 1, wherein said structure is made of elements in the form of geometric solids 2, resting on a frame in the form of a grid made of the permanently interconnected layers of tubes 3, wherein preferably through the tubes 3 fibers 4 are passing, and the geometric solids 2 are embedded in the light alloy matrix 1 to a level above one half of their total height.
 2. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein the tubes 3 in a layer are arranged parallel to each other.
 3. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein said geometric solids 2 are embedded in the grid openings.
 4. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein said geometric solids 2 are in the shape of spheres.
 5. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein said geometric solids 2 are in the shape of truncated pyramids with a square base.
 6. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein said geometric solids 2 are ceramic solids or metallic solids.
 7. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein fibers 4 are successively passing through all the tubes 3 in one layer and the ends of fibers 4 are connected to each other.
 8. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein fibers 4 are connected in such a way that the ends of the fibers 4 passing through the tubes 3 in one layer are connected to the ends of the fibers 4 passing through the tubes 3 in the adjacent layer.
 9. The composite passive armor protection of claim 1, wherein the fibers 4 are aramid or steel fibers. 